My mom has been in the hospital 2 of the past three weeks. Bladder infections and dehydration were the last diagnosis. In the hospital on both occasions mom was given fluids intravenously. After the first hospital stay mom had a catherter added, and I was told she would need skilled nursing care. So, we opted for a nursing home in town. This was a hard decision, however. After a week mom was back in the hospital. Today is the second day out of the hospital. Mom is refusing to drink or eat enough to maintain bladder functions. I feel that after a week she will be dehydrated again. I am trying ensure and ice cream with very minimal intake. Has anyone experienced similar issues or have any advice.
I know there are others on here who are more knowledgeable than I. I'm sure you will get lots of good advice on here. Good Luck!
Share earlier life times and things that made HER the happiest with her.
God is always awake and you can talk to him too.
I've always heard it is extremely painful or does that only pertain to non-humans?
Gershun euthanasia is the deliberate administration of medications that will ensure death in a very short time. Like having an animal put to sleep. The side effects from some drugs used to ensure comfort at the end of life may appear to shorten life but that is not the intention. You have to ask yourself if you would rather see your loved one quiet and peaceful or screaming in pain and fear throwing themselves all over the bed.
You said, "Later at night she will wake up, we hang out, and eat ice cream"
Of course, on Monday you will want to check with health personnel, especially for UTI and constipation, unless you can detect this yourself. But you have noticed a change. Be sure her new room is cooled enough. Some people prefer a schedule of late-night wakefulness.
If there is any congestion, or if the ice cream makes mucous, change to sherbert and jello. Just reviewing some basics, in general. Others will know your mother's issues better.
If you want, start a new thread to ask other caregivers to walk you through this.
It's okay to ask for help. I care about you and your family, and want to help, at least to facilitate your getting the help you need.
I could not help to notice when other daughters went through this, they were acutely aware of changes in their Moms. Remembering Hope, Katie, Jeannette, Lucky, and others. There will be support and advice for you, too, at whatever level of clinical/physical caregiving is needed.
I am thinking constipation could explain your mother's symptoms today.
If you wonder about things like UTIs, but you don't want to go to the doctor, you can buy some of the AZO urine test strips. They are pretty sensitive, so will let you know if there is something to worry about.
Is your mother in late-stage lung disease? It takes away a lot of energy, I know. It may be that you are doing everything right and the rest is in God's hands. I found comfort when my father was so ill in putting it in God's hands, even though I'm not overly religious. There are things we can't control. The only thing we can do is be there for them.
talking about them. We can have peace and love in our hearts and smile when we think of them.
I did not know about the strips for the UTI's and will pick that up. I ask her about the status of her bathroom habits and she usually tells me if she has a problem. She gets a fiber and probiotic capsule every evening with her medicine at dinner to try to prevent any constipation. She is on no pain medicine and only takes Plavix, Raloxifene, which is something for her breast cancer ( cancer free five years)' medodirne for the orthostatic hypotension, a couple of breathing things for her COPD and metoprolol for high BP. For 91 that is a tremendously few pills. I take many more than her!
I think that I am going to plan some activity that she may enjoy, even if it is at home such as Skyping the grands and great grands, to give her something to get up for. It may just be boredom and bad habits to keep her in bed.